Superior Court Judge Michael Levanas issued the "oral tentative statement decision." Shelly Sterling was seen bursting into tears when the ruling was made saying she could not believe it was over, although the case is not likely over. The sale was brokered after the NBA banned Donald Sterling from owning the team and ever attending Clippers games after inflammatory comments to a girlfriend of his. Those comments, which disparaged African-Americans and singled out current Dodgers minority owner and LA Lakers great Magic Johnson set off a firestorm.

“We are pleased that the court has affirmed Shelly Sterling’s right to sell the Los Angeles Clippers to Steve Ballmer. We look forward to the transaction closing as soon as possible,” said Mike Bass, Executive Vice President, Communications for the NBA in a statement.

Donald Sterling

At the heart of the court case was removing Donald from the trust that owned the team after doctors said that he had Alzheimer's disease and was incapable of running the franchise. The key points were whether Shelly had deceived him with the medical examinations and whether Shelly had properly removed Donald as trustee of the Clippers.

The case isn’t technically over, although the sale can move forward. According to USA Today, cited in Levanas ruling statement is a provision in California trust law that allows Shelly Sterling to proceed with the sale of the team "as if no appeal were pending," according to provision 1310(b).

"(Shelly Sterling's) testimony was far and away more credible than Donald," Levanas said. "Donald's answers were often evasive and, in one instance, were inconsistent with his previous testimony."

Maury Brown is the owner of Bizball, LLC, a research and analytics company, as well as a member of the BBWAA. Follow him on Twitter @BizballMaury or on Facebook.